Phoenix man charged in robbery spree at 10 California, Arizona stores

Angela Cordoba Perez, Arizona Republic
·2 min read
2
Crime
Crime

A Phoenix man was charged Monday on suspicion of firing at federal agents and robbing nine stores in Southern California and at least one in Arizona within a three-week period.

During the robbery spree, which began on July 31, Samuel Sven Smith, 26, is suspected to have robbed 10 stores, including nine PetSmart stores, according to a filed affidavit. Smith was arrested on Saturday after a robbery at a PetSmart store in Rancho Cucamonga, California, ended in a high-speed chase, officials said.

Smith used a distinct handbag and pointed a gun at employees at the cash register, according to a U.S Department of Justice news release. The total loss of the businesses was estimated at about $7,091.

According to the Justice Department, on the day of his arrest, Smith noticed law enforcement approaching him, and he fired at an unmarked vehicle of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

At least two rounds were fired and the vehicle was struck by gunfire. An officer returned fire from another vehicle, according to the DOJ news release.

Smith fled in his car at a high speed for about 20 minutes through different cities, until police rammed his car, officials said. During the pursuit, Smith fired several rounds at the officers chasing him, according to the DOJ news release.

When officers approached Smith in his car, they found him with a gunshot wound underneath his chin. He told them that when they rammed the vehicle, he accidentally shot himself. He was taken to a hospital and was recovering from his injuries.

During the arrest, he was wearing the same clothes that he had worn during the robbery, including the ski mask, and officers found the gun and rounds of live ammunition, according to the DOJ news release.

Smith was charged on suspicion of interference with commerce by robbery, brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence and assault on a federal officer.

The ATF Orange County Violent Crime Task Force was investigating the case.

Reach breaking news reporter Angela Cordoba Perez at Angela.CordobaPerez@Gannett.com or on Twitter @AngelaCordobaP.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix man charged in robbery spree in California and Arizona